Little Orchard Montessori Nursery Sparkwell

Inspection of Little Orchard Montessori Nursery Sparkwell The Old School, Sparkwell, Plymouth PL7 5DB

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is good

Children are warmly greeted by staff. Staff provide carefully planned environments and learning activities for children to play and explore. Staff know the children well, and children clearly feel happy and settled. The curriculum all children experience builds on what they already know and can do. For example, older children excitedly practise and develop their tooth brushing skills as they learn about self-care and keeping teeth healthy and strong. They learn about the importance of making teeth brushing part of a daily routine for life.

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The provision is good

Staff working with babies know their care routines and respond quickly to signs they need comfort or support. As babies develop confidence to move around, staff praise and encourage their efforts, and babies' perseverance skills flourish. Throughout the nursery, staff develop strong bonds with children and children's personal, social and emotional skills blossom. Children are confident and eager to interact with visitors and show kindness and respect towards each other as they play. Behaviour is good. Staff have high expectations of children and support them to share and take turns when needed.

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The provision is good

Children experience rich and varied learning experiences that include visiting the local church, taking part in village celebrations, and learning about the horses, deer and lambs they see in the fields surrounding nursery. Children learn about the world around them. They grow their own fruits and vegetables to enjoy at snack time. They enjoy learning from community members that visit and teach children about religious events celebrated by others, such as Chinese New Year and Harvest.

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need to do better?

n Staff model language well for children. Story times and singing are regular activities with children of all ages. Babies enjoy singing nursery rhymes and watch with interest as staff perform actions as they sing. Older children eagerly listen to stories. As staff share a story about emotions with children, they encourage children to describe occasions when they feel a certain emotion. Children show themselves to be such confident communicators, able to share their thoughts and ideas and listen to their friends when they share their experiences. n Staff have high expectations of children and prioritise helping them develop skills to support their next steps in learning. Staff encourage children to develop independence as they play and learn. Children relish the opportunity to choose activities and engage with these for some time. Resources and games are stored at a low level, and this supports their growing independence. Children have daily

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need to do better?

opportunities to take part in outdoor learning, which successfully supports their

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need to do better?

20 January 2025 physical development and well-being. n Children enjoy social mealtimes. They use real crockery and utensils and serve themselves food. Children chat happily with friends and staff as they enjoy meals prepared on site that support a well-balanced healthy diet. Staff support children to pour their own milk or water and praise their efforts. n There are daily opportunities for children to lead their own play but, at times, staff do not allow children enough time to engage in independent learning and develop their concentration and focus. n Leaders provide regular support to staff to engage in training opportunities and develop their skills, confidence and practice, to meet the learning and development needs of the children they care for. Staff's well-being is good. Staff speak positively about the levels of support and encouragement they receive from leaders. Leaders are reflective and continually develop the experiences for

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need to do better?

children, such as introducing a sign a day to babies to support the youngest children with strategies to communicate their wishes and needs. n Parents speak positively about the caring staff and rich range of experiences their children enjoy at nursery. During hand over, staff inform parents about activities enjoyed each day. However, sharing of children's learning, development and progress is not regularly taking place to inform parents of how they can continue to support learning at home. n Procedures for effective management of children's allergies are effective. Staff supervise children closely when they are eating, to help reduce the risk of cross contamination of allergens.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n improve communication with parents to ensure they know children's next steps in learning and how they can continue the learning at home n support staff to engage children more effectively in sustained play and develop their skills of concentration and focus.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY476308 Local authority Devon Inspection number 10368425 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person Little Orchard Montessori Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01752837883 Date of previous inspection 20 March 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Little Orchard Montessori Nursery Sparkwell re-registered in 2014. The nursery is located in the village of Sparkwell on the outskirts of Plymouth, Devon. It is open Monday to Friday, from 7.45am until 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year, closing for a week at Christmas and all bank holidays. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education. There are eight members of staff in total, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 2 to level 6. The nursery follows the Montessori method of education.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n Leaders joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector spoke to children to find out about their time at the setting. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

20 January 2025 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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